Doffer comb apparatus for carding machine



1952 c. o. STARNES ETAL 3,061,890

DOFFER COMB APPARATUS FOR CARDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 15, 1961 United tree The present invention relates to carding machines, and more particularly to an improved doffer comb apparatus for removing carded stock from the doffer cylinder thereof.

conventionally, a doffer comb apparatus comprises a shaft mounted at its opposite ends in suitable bearings for oscillatory movement. The shaft is suitably driven in its oscillatory movement from the drive mechanism of the carding machine and a plurality of spaced, parallel fingers are mounted on the shaft at one end and extend horizontally outwardly therefrom to a point where they terminate in free end portions. An elongate dofler comb blade is mounted on the free end portions of the fingers and extends horizontally lengthwise and vertically widthwise. The lower longitudinal edge of the blade constitutes a working edge which moves in close proximity to the clothing on the surface of the dofler cylinder to strip or remove the carded stock therefrom.

The thusly removed carded stock normally travels downwardly and outwardly from the doifer comb blade to a trumpet which condenses the same into sliver form and then passes through a set of calender rolls and into a suitable receptacle. The carded stock, between the point of removal from the dofier cylinder and the trumpet, is in web form and is very light and flimsy, has very little structural strength, and the slightest amount of air current coming into contact with the web interferes with uniform distribution of the fibers and will cause what is known as clouding of the web.

In the use of the aforementioned conventional doffer comb apparatus, the carded stock which has been removed from the doffer cylinder frequently passes upwardly from the removal point on the opposite side of the dotfer comb blade from the doffer cylinder between the supporting fingers, and returns to the surface of the doffer cylinder. This action is termed climbing the doifer and results from a number of conditions which occur frequently in the operation of a carding machine. When carded stock climbs the dotfer, the dofler cylinder becomes loaded with carded stock, and the same piles up or accumulates between the dofier clothing and the dofler casing or cover, resulting in damage to the dofier cylinder clothing. Also, in some cases, the climbing of the doffer by the carded stock results in damage to the clothing on the main carding cylinder.

When the doifer cylinder clothing and/ or main cylinder clothing are damaged by the carded stock climbing the cloffer, the same must be reclothed to place the carding machine in condition to properly perform its carding operation. It can readily be appreciated that reclothing of the dofler cylinder and/or the main cylinder is quite expensive, since not only is the purchase price of the clothing and the cost of placing the same on the cylinders expensive, but also the carding machine must be removed from production while the cylinders are being reclothed. This results in a considerable loss of production and an increase in the overhead cost which materially reduces profit.

The climbing of the dofler by the carded stock not only results in considerable damage and, hence, expense from a repair standpoint, but also results in considerable Waste of stock since the portion of the stock which climbs the dofler, when removed from the card is relegated to waste.

Several attempts have been made to overcome the aforementioned problems of climbing the doffer by the carded stock. Such attempts have generally been directed to modifications in the comb blade, as by providing a forwardly directed flange or lip portion on the upper portion of the comb to deflect the web away from the dofler. These attempts have not proven completely satisfactory in alleviating the web climbing the doffer. The reason appears to be due to not having a sufliciently wide deflecting lip or flange. While the solution appears to be obvious, such is not the case, as recognized in the prior art attempts. As pointed out in the prior art, turbulence in the air around the web must be maintained at a minimum or the aforementioned clouding of the Web will result. This is further supported by applicants lengthy experience in this field. The extension of the forwardly extending lip or flange sufiiciently to prevent the web climbing the doffer results in the creation of suflicient turbulence in the air to continually cause clouding of the web and, hence, nonuniformity in the sliver resulting in inferior quality yarn.

The present invention was developed to obviate these problems. The improved comb apparatus of the present invention completely precludes climbing of the doffer since substantially all of the area between the comb blade and the shaft is covered. Further, this preclusion is effected without the creation of turbulence in the air and the resulting clouding of the Web.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved doffer comb apparatus which effectively prevents the aforementioned climbing of the dofier by the carded stock while preventing clouding of the web, or other interference with the carding operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a deflector plate to be mounted on the fingers of a conventional doffer comb apparatus to prevent the carded stock from moving upwardly behind the doffer comb blade, and to deflect the carded stock downwardly to prevent the same from climbing over the doifer comb blade and returning to the dolfer cylinder without clouding the web.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a deflector plate of the character last described, wherein the deflector plate is provided with a plurality of openings formed therein of sufiicient size and number to allow air to freely pass therethrough to prevent turbulence being created in the air when the plate moves with the doifer comb apparatus.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of a carding machine and a dolfer comb apparatus therefor embodying the features of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged transverse section taken substantially along line 22 in FIGURE 1 with portions broken away;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 in FIGURE 2; and

IGURE 4 is a fragmentary, greatly enlarged section taken substantially along line 4-4 in FIGURE 3.

ReferrIng now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURE 1, there is shown a portion of a carding machine generally indicated at 10. Carding machine 10 comprises a dofler cylinder 11, a coiler mechanism in.- cluding a coiler head 12, a suitable sliver receptacle 13, and a pair of calender rolls 14, which receives the carded stock removed from the doffer cylinder 11 by a dolfer comb apparatus generally indicated at 2%).

Doifer comb apparatus comprises a generally horizontally extending shaft 21 mounted for oscillatory movement in bearings 22, 23 at opposite ends thereof. Bearings 22, 23 are suitably supported on portions of the carding machine frame 24. Bearing 23 contains a conventional drive system, including gearing or the like for driving the shaft 21 in its oscillatory movement.

A plurality of fingers 25 (FIGURE 2), are mounted at one end on shaft 21, and extend substantially horizontally outwardly therefrom to a point where the same terminate in free end portions 25a. It is noted that fingers 25 are preferably from three (3) to five (5) depending upon the width of the doifer cylinder 11 on carding machine 10, and are of such length that they terminate adjacent the outer surface of the doffer cylinder. A doffer comb blade 26 is mounted on the free ends 25a of fingers 25 by suitable bolts 27 extending through flanges 25!) mounted on fingers 25 and through blade 26. Blade 26 is preferably of a length equal to the width of the dofler cylinder 11, and is of conventional width, i.e., approximately one inch. Blade 26 extends horizontally lengthwise and is disposed substan tially vertical widthwise. The lowermost edge 26a of blade 26 defines a working edge which moves in close proximity to the outer surface of the clothing 28 on doffer cylinder 11 to strip or remove the carded stock 15 therefrom. Working edge 26a is preferably provided with teeth in a manner that is conventional in the art.

The preceding has been a description of conventional carding machine structure which is well known in the are, and has been used for a number of years. Turning now to a discn'ption of the structure which makes applicants doffer comb apparatus novel and distinct from prior types, a deflector plate 30 is mounted on top of the fingers 25 by a pair of U-bolts 31 provided for each of the fingers 25. U-bolts 31 have the bight portion thereof extending around fingers 25 and the legs extending through suitable openings 32 formed in plate 30. The upper ends of the legs of U-bolts 31 are suitably threaded and receive nut members 33 thereon to securely fasten plate 30 to fingers 25. It is to be understood, however, that U-bolts 3-1 may be omitted and any other suitable means provided for securing plate 30 to fingers 25 without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is noted that the aforementioned structure allows deflector plate 30 to be quickly and easily mounted on all types of conventional carding machines now in use with a very small amount of stoppage time and with no modification of the carding machines being necessary. It is to be understood that, while deflector plate 30 is shown and described as a plate separate from the doifer comb blade, the deflector plate may be formed integral with a doffer comb blade or with a portion which functions as a dotfer comb blade without departing from the spirit of the instant invention. It is noted that the separate deflector plate is preferred since the production and sale thereof are more feasible from a commercial standpoint.

Deflector plate 30 is generally elongate in a horizontal direction, and preferably of a width substantially equal to the length of fingers 25 so that one longitudinal edge thereof is disposed in close proximity, or preferably in abutting relation, to the doffer comb blade 26, and the other longitudinal edge is disposed adjacent shaft 21. Deflector plate 30 is preferably formed generally channel-shape in cross-section with a body portion 30a extending substantially parallel to fingers 25 and legs 30b, 30c extending outwardly from body 'portion 30a toward fingers 25. It is noted that legs 30b and 300 diverge outwardly from the body portion 30a at an acute angle to the horizontal. Leg portion 300 is provided with a generally horizontally disposed lip 30d extending outwardly from the lower edge thereof so that the same will have a substantial area of contact with the inner end of fingers 25.

The generally channel, cross-sectional shape of deflector plate 3%) provides an upwardly and outwardly curving lower surface from the dolfer comb blade 26, and also spaces the body portion 39a a sufficient distance above the carded stock 15 during normal removal thereof to prevent the deflector plate 30 from hitting the web 15 and either damaging the web or knocking the same down against the dolfer cylinder 11 or on to the floor. It is to be understood that the legs 30b, 30c may be disposed at any desired angle to the horizontal, and may be of any desired length within the necessary range to prevent knockdown of the web while still serving to deflect the carded stock downwardly when the same attempts to climb the doffer.

As mentioned above, the portions of body portion 30a of deflector plate '30 disposed above fingers 25 are provided with openings 32 therethrough to receive the legs of the U-bolts 31. These portions of body portion 30a are also provided with a plurality of openings 34 to allow air to pass therethrough when the same oscillates with fingers 25. Openings 34 are preferably elongated lengthwise of deflector plate 30 and are of suflicient number and size to prevent turbulence from being created in the air by the oscillation of these portions. The remaining portions of plate 30 between the portions overlying fingers 25 are provided with a plurality of openings 35. Openings 35 are preferably elongated widthwise' of deflector plate 30, and are also of suflicient number and size to allow air to freely pass therethrough to prevent turbulence from being created.

While openings 34 and 35 are preferably elongate in the manner and direction set forth above, it is contemplated that the same may be formed in any size, shape, and of any number which will allow a sufficient amount of air to pass through plate 30 as the same oscillates to prevent turbulence from being created in the air surrounding the same while still preventing the web 15 from climbing the dofler.

Deflector plate 30 is preferably constructed of a lightweight material having the characteristic of resistance to formation and accumulation of static electricity therein to prevent the carded stock 15 from being drawn to plate 30 and held for a sufiicient length of time to interfere with the carding operation. We have determined that aluminum possesses the aforementioned characteristics and also is easily workable and is relatively inexpensive. Aluminum is therefore preferred since the same will successfully function as a deflector plate and provides the desirable characteristics which makes the same commercially suitable for this purpose. It is noted that stainless steel would also provide the aforementioned characteristics, but the cost thereof renders the same unsuitable from a commercial viewpoint.

It is desirable to provide the deflector plate 30 with an extremely smooth lower surface since the fibers of the carded stock will become caught on any rough spots or the like, and an action referred to as tagging will result. Tagging also interferes with the successful carding operation and, therefore, the undersurface of deflector plate 39 is either highly polished or coated with a suitable coating material to provide the desired smooth undersurface.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, deflector plate 30 is not polished to achieve the aforementioned smooth surface since the polishing is expensive and does not provide a sufficiently smooth surface in all instances of use. Deflector plate 30 is provided with an outer coating 40 of plastic material which is placed on all surfaces of the deflector plate and serves to completely enclose the same so that no part thereof is exposed. The coating 40 of plastic material preferably has electrically nonconductive characteristics, as well as characteristics which make the same bondable to the deflector plate and which will present an exceedingly smooth surface when so bonded.

In operation, the deflector plate 30 of the present invention is mounted on the above-described conventional doffer comb apparatus by placing the U-bolts 31 around the doffer comb fingers 25 and inserting the legs thereof through openings 32 in deflector plate 30. Nut members 33 are then threadably engaged with the legs of U-bolts 31 to securely mount the deflector plate 30 on the fingers 35.

The carding machine is then placed in operation, and the deflector plate 30 oscillates with the dofler comb apparatus 20 with the working edge 26a of doifer comb blade 26 stripping or removing the carded stock from doffer cylinder 11. As long as the carded stock is being removed in the normal manner, deflector plate 3! is spaced therefrom and, due to the openings 34, 35 and the inverted channel shape, does not interfere with the carding operation for the reasons set forth above.

If for any reason, the carded stock 15 attempts to climb the doffer, the same will contact the lower surface of deflector plate 31) and will be deflected downwardly away from the doifer cylinder 11. Due to the relatively small size of openings 35, there is no possibility for the carded stock 15 to pass therethrough and return to the surface of dofler cylinder 11.

It is therefore apparent that an improved doffer comb apparatus is provided wherein the aforementioned action of climbing the doffer is conclusively prevented, and wherein the normal carding operation is not interfered with in any way.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

We claim:

1. In a doffer comb apparatus for removing carded stock from a doffer cylinder, said dofler comb apparatus having a shaft mounted for oscillatory movement parallel to and spaced from the doffer cylinder, a plurality of spaced, parallel fingers mounted on said shaft at one end for movement therewith and extending horizontally outwardly therefrom toward the dofler cylinder, said fingers terminating in free ends adjacent the surface of the dotfer cylinder, and a comb blade mounted on the free ends of said fingers for movement therewith and having a working edge which moves in close proximity to the surface of the doffer cylinder to remove the carded stock therefrom; the combination of means mounted on said dofler comb apparatus for movement therewith and being of suflicient dimensions to cover the area between the blade and the shaft, said means being constructed and arranged to allow air to freely pass therethrough to prevent turbulence from being created in the air when the same oscillates, and to prevent knockdown of the carded stock, said means deflecting downwardly any carded stock attempting to return to the doifer cylinder above the doffer comb blade and thereby to prevent the carded stock from climbing the dotfer.

2. In a doffer comb apparatus for removing carded stock from a dofler cylinder, said doffer comb apparatus having a shaft mounted for oscillatory movement parallel to and spaced from the doffer cylinder, a plurality of spaced, parallel fingers mounted on said shaft at one end for movement therewith and extending horizontally outwardly therefrom toward the doffer cylinder, said fingers terminating in free ends adjacent the surface of the dofler cylinder, and a doifer comb blade mounted on the free ends of said fingers for movement therewith and having a working edge which moves in close proximity to the surface of the doffer cylinder to remove the carded stock therefrom; the combination of an elongate deflector plate mounted on said fingers for movement therewith and being of substantially the same length as said blade and of a width substantially the same as the length of said fingers, said plate having a plurality of openings formed therein of suflicient size and number to allow air to freely pass therethrough to prevent turbulence from being created in the air when the plate oscillates with the fingers, said plate serving to deflect downwardly any carded stock attempting to return to the dofler cylinder above the doffer comb blade and thereby to prevent the carded stock from climbing the dofier.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2 wherein only small portions of said plate adjacent opposite longitudinal edges thereof contact said fingers with the remaining portion of the plate being spaced above said fingers to space the major portion of the plate above the carded stock during normal removal thereof from the doffer cylinder.

4. The structure set forth in claim 2 wherein said plate is generally channel-shape in cross-section so that only small portions of said plate adjacent opposite longitudinal edges thereof contact said fingers with the remaining portion of the plate being spaced above said fingers, the channel-shaped plate having a body portion and leg portions extending outwardly therefrom with said leg portions diverging outwardly from the body portion such that the bottom surface smoothly curves upwardly and outwardly from the fingers.

5. The structure set forth in claim 2 wherein said plate is constructed of aluminum to reduce the retention of static electricity therein to thereby prevent interference with the normal removal of the carded stock from the doffer cylinder.

6. The structure set forth in claim 5, wherein at least the bottom surface of said plate is coated with an electrically non-conductive plastic material to further reduce the formation and retention of static electricity and to present a smooth surface to prevent tagging of the fibers in the carded stock.

7. The structure set forth in claim 5, wherein said plate is coated with an electrically non-conductive plastic material in such a manner that the same is completely euclosed, the plastic coating serving to further reduce the formation and retention of static electricity and to present a smooth bottom surface to prevent tagging of the fibers in the carded stock.

8. An elongate deflector plate for use with a dofler comb apparatus having a shaft mounted for oscillatory movement, a plurality of spaced fingers mounted on said shaft for movement therewith and extending horizontally outwardly therefrom, and a dofier comb blade mounted on said fingers for movement therewith; said deflector plate being adapted to be mounted on the fingers for movement therewith and being of a length substantially the same as the length of the comb blade and a width substantially the same as the length of the fingers, said deflector plate having a plurality of openings formed therein of sufficient size and number to allow air to freely pass therethrough to prevent turbulence from being created when the plate moves through the air.

9. An elongate deflector plate for use with a dofler comb apparatus having a shaft mounted for oscillatory movement, a plurality of spaced fingers mounted on said shaft for movement therewith and extending horizontally outwardly therefrom, and a dofler comb blade mounted on said fingers for movement therewith, said deflector plate being adapted to be mounted on the fingers for movement therewith and being of a length substantially the same as the length of the comb blade and a Width substantially the same as the length of the fingers, said deflector plate being of generally downwardly opening, channel-shape in cross-section and having a body portion and leg portions extending outwardly therefrom, said leg portions diverging outwardly from the body portion such that the bottom surface of said plate curves upwardly and outwardly from the fingers, said deflector plate having a plurality of openings formed therein of suflicient size and number to allow air to freely pass therethrough References Cited in the file of this patent to prevent turbulence from being created When the plate UNITED STATES PATENTS moves through the air.

10. The structure set forth in claim 9, including a coat- 3 r g 24, 1380 ing of electrically nonconductive plastic material com- 5 835,200 Rawlinson Nov. 6, 1906 pletely covering the outer surface of said deflector plate 848,625 Bennett et al. Apr. 2, 1907 to reduce the formation and retention of static electricity 2,942,305 Hollingsworth June 28, 1960 and to present a smooth surface on said plate to prevent tagging of the fibers in the carded stock. 

